Replacing inverter fixed flaky laptop screen backlight

A couple of years ago I was having trouble with the backlight on my IBM ThinkPad laptop, as shown in this thread. The problem was that the backlight would switch off after I had been using the computer for a while, and not come back on unless I restarted it.

Gradually, the problem became worse, so it would take me several times restarting for the screen to light up. Eventually, it would not light up, and I had to use an external screen. Sometimes it would blink on and off when I first started it up.

Finally deciding to fix or junk the thing, I looked on the Internet and found a suggestion to replace the inverter for the screen. The clue was that the backlight would blink on and off. That seems to be consistent with an inverter failing, and not for a failing backlight.

I found an inverter for about $15, and put it in. Now the laptop works fine (so far at least).

Thought I would share that happy ending in case anyone else has the same problem.